SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots to Identify Synonyms

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Middle Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Suffixes

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

FELICITY

Possible Answers:

Happiness 

Despondency

Jealousy 

Misery 

Fortune 

Correct answer:

Happiness 

Explanation:

"Felicity" is a noun used to describe happiness and contentment or something that creates happiness and contentment. For clarification, "despondency" is a feeling of hopelessness.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Latin

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

AILMENT

Possible Answers:

Clandestine

Sickness 

Obstinate 

Dogma 

Treatment 

Correct answer:

Sickness 

Explanation:

An "ailment" is an affliction or a sickness. For clarification, "clandestine" means secret or underground, "dogma" refers to a system of belief or a doctrine, and "obstinate" means stubborn.

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Suffixes

Synonyms: choose the word with the meaning closest to the word in question.

Dependable

Possible Answers:

Tolerable

Successful

Ordinary

Reliable

Rare

Correct answer:

Reliable

Explanation:

"Reliable" means dependable.

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Latin

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

AMIABLE

Possible Answers:

Radical 

Ill-tempered

Erratic 

Recalcitrant 

Good-natured 

Correct answer:

Good-natured 

Explanation:

"Amiable" means good-natured. "Ill-tempered" means cantankerous, so it is an antonym of "amiable," not a "synonym." For clarification, "erratic" means unpredictable or devoid of a pattern, "recalcitrant" means unruly and disobedient, and "radical" means favoring major changes.

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Latin

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

SIZEABLE

Possible Answers:

Wasteful

Unwilling

Rural

Substantial

Unused

Correct answer:

Substantial

Explanation:

"Sizeable" means substantial, so "substantial," an adjective that means very large, is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "sizeable": "unwilling" means hesitant or not willing or ready to do something, as you might infer from the word being a combination of the negative prefix "un-," which means not, and "willing"; "unused" means original or new, or in other words, not used, as you might have inferred from the word also including the negative prefix "un-"; "rural" means located in or having qualities of the countryside as opposed to cities; and "wasteful" means spending or using too much or more than that is needed.

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Suffixes

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

EGOTIST

Possible Answers:

Calm person 

Selfless person 

Wise person 

Athletic person 

Conceited person 

Correct answer:

Conceited person 

Explanation:

An "egotist" is a selfish and conceited person. For clarification, "conceited" means self-obsessed and arrogant.

Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Suffixes

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

LEGIBLE

Possible Answers:

Intelligent

Rash

Energetic

Readable

Humorous

Correct answer:

Readable

Explanation:

"Legible" means neat enough to be read and understood, so "readable" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "legible": "intelligent" means smart; "energetic" means lively or possessing a lot of energy; "rash" means reckless or careless; and "humorous" means funny.

Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Suffixes

Synonyms

Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

PACIFY

Possible Answers:

a baby's toy

dismiss

surrender

agree

soothe

Correct answer:

soothe

Explanation:

"Pacify" means to soothe or ease.

Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Suffixes

Each of the following questions consists of one word followed by five words or phrases. You are to select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

FORTIFY

Possible Answers:

inspire

serve

strengthen

bend

win

Correct answer:

strengthen

Explanation:

Fortify most nearly means strengthen as in "After the attack, the governor elected to fortify the city".

Example Question #15 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Latin

Synonyms: choose the answer with the meaning closest to the word in question.

Unify

Possible Answers:

to extend

to bring together

to separate

to impress

to order

Correct answer:

to bring together

Explanation:

"Unify" means to bring together.

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